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Biological Opinions - Bureau of Reclamation

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correlated with higher natural smolt production on the Oregon Coast. Increases in summer<br />

flows, along with stabilizing winter flows, have led to increased production <strong>of</strong> coho salmon<br />

(Lister and Walker 1966; Mundie 1969), while Burns (1971) found that highest mortality <strong>of</strong> coho<br />

salmon in the summer occurred during periods <strong>of</strong> lowest flows.<br />

By reducing spring flows in the mainstem Klamath River, the proposed action decreases survival<br />

and passage rate in the reach between IGD and the mouth <strong>of</strong> the Shasta River (RM 176) when<br />

flows at IGD are between 1,020 and 10,300 cfs, as supported by data from Beeman et al. (2012).<br />

The decrease in survival is likely a result <strong>of</strong> increased exposure to stressors in the mainstem<br />

Klamath River. Some <strong>of</strong> these adverse effects will be minimized by the flow variability<br />

incorporated into the proposed action when precipitation and snow melt occurs in the upper<br />

Klamath Basin.<br />

12.4.1.2.4.6 Flow Variability<br />

The beneficial effects <strong>of</strong> flow variability described earlier for coho salmon fry (i.e., section<br />

12.4.1.2.3.4) also apply to coho salmon juveniles. In addition, juvenile coho salmon will be<br />

provided environmental cues with variable flows under the proposed action, and will likely<br />

redistribute downstream to abundant overwintering habitat in the lower Klamath River reach and<br />

downstream non-natal tributaries during the fall.<br />

12.4.1.3 Risk<br />

The proposed action will likely result in increased risks to coho salmon individuals. Of all the<br />

different life stages, coho salmon fry and juveniles (parr and smolts) face the highest risks from<br />

the hydrologic effects <strong>of</strong> the proposed action, especially during the spring (Table 12.6). Risks to<br />

smolts apply to both IGH coho salmon and natural origin coho salmon from populations in the<br />

Upper Klamath, Middle Klamath, Shasta, Scott, and Salmon rivers. Risks to coho salmon fry<br />

and juveniles from the Salmon River population are the least since most <strong>of</strong> the adverse effects <strong>of</strong><br />

the proposed project diminish in the mainstem Klamath River at Orleans (RM 59).<br />

355

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